Malise (V) 8th Earl of Strathearn, 19th Earl of Orkney and Caithness ^{1 2}

   User ID: V561.

  General Notes:

"Malise, the last of that name. Earl of Strathearn, succeeded, doubtless in right of his great-grandmother Matilda, already referred to, of whom he was the direct, and apparently the only, male heir, which corroborates the statement of Bishop Tulloch that he succeeded Earl Magnus by hereditary right in both the earldoms of
Orkney and Caithness. Descent from Matilda would give complete right to both. But though he held the title, he
appears to have possessed only the fourth part of the territory of Caithness, with the rents of which he is charged in the Exchequer Rolls of 1331. The other fourth part or half of the territory held by Magnus was probably held by Margaret, spouse of Simon Fraser, who, as ' one of the heirs of the Earl of Caithness,' made a claim to the earldom in 1330."

from Scots Peerage (vol 2)




"Malise, eighth Earl of Strathearn, succeeded his father between 1323 and 1329. In February 1330-31 the
English King wrote to King David II. and to the Earl of Strathearn and others, probably as members of the Council, requesting the restitution to certain noblemen of Scottish estates to which they laid claim. In the same year he is debited by the Crown for the rents of a fourth-part of Caithness, which shows he had succeeded to that earldom in right of his great-grandmother Matilda, daughter of Gilbert, Earl of Caithness."

"The English King also in his letters to King Edward Baliol and Henry Beaumont, Earl of Buchan, refers to a
matter which has always been and still is surrounded with mystery. He speaks of Malise as late Earl of Strathearn, and states that his earldom had been forfeited and bestowed by Edward Baliol, with consent of his Council, upon John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey. No reason for the forfeiture is assigned, and it might be inferred it was because of the Earl's loyalty it was confiscated. He made strenuous application to obtain it back again, but without success."

" ... he was, apparently during King David's absence in France, arraigned before the High Steward, as Lieutenant of the Kingdom, and a jury, on a charge of felony and treason, because he had, of his own free will, resigned his earldom of Strathearn in the hands of Edward Baliol by reason of a contract between him and ' Sir John, Earl de Warenne.' The jury acquitted him of treason, but the earldom remained in the hands of King David II., who bestowed it, on 9 February 1343-44, on Maurice Moray ..."

from Scots Peerage (vol 8) ^{1 2}

Malise married Marjorie of Ross, daughter of Hugh Earl of Ross and Matilda or Maud DE BRUS, probably by about 1328.¹ (Marjorie of Ross was born about 1310.)

  Marriage Notes:

"Earl Malise is said to have married twice, his first wife being alleged to be a daughter of the Earl of Menteith. But no evidence has been found on the subject, and his only recorded wife was Marjorie Ross, daughter of Hugh, fifth Earl of Ross, and sister of William, sixth Earl. The marriage may have taken place between 1325 and 1328, the probable date of a charter to Mar[jorie] or Maria of Strathearn, wife of Malise of Strathearn, of the lands of Kinkell, Brechin."

from Scots Peerage ¹